Wedding photograpy training offer.

[UmiKaibutsu]

I did a lot of studying on wedding photography back when I was operating a (very) small photo studio. I'm interested in doing more of that, but I'm in a completely different area now and difficult market in my opinion. My photo company was great, licensed, tax compliant and very very small. I did aerial, real estate, events and portraits. I used a PO Box from a rural hole in the wall to obtain developing from one of the best labs in the country, delivered as 5x8 matte white border "thumbnails" that were freebies and used to choose prints then the negatives were shipped elsewhere in the country for up to 20x30s (on fuji 100 or 200 at most although I had 800 for low light 8x10s). I think I got into the event sort of thing from my previous days as a high volume souvenir photographer and the aerial photography from my Navy experience. My business model undercut prices absurdly and increased quality extremely, but I did not wish to live in that area so I let it go and moved.

By study, I mean that I read every book on wedding photography that was available at the rather small local library. That was about 8 or 9 books. I had more work that I would have needed, but I knew there was more to learn. I was successful in that I had a 100% customer satisfaction rate and I had never shot a wedding. I liked that 100% satisfaction rate and no it was not just 1 customer or some silly nonsense. If someone was not happy, it was free, no questions asked. But with weddings, you cant do that. Wedding photography is right up there with brain surgery. it is not something you fool around and take chances with.

Shooting 35mm film with a rebel + Sigma 17-55, lumiquest softbox on my seigelite flashbracket and a cheap tripod I knew I could outdo most of the local photographers regardless of their gear, with exception of some of the serious pro studios. I knew this because I had seen their awful work sitting on many peoples mantles and office desks. I was so small that I carried all of my gear with me at all times, including a cheap telephoto lens.

In the NY market I think it would suffice to 2nd shoot for half a dozen weddings before feeling up to speed again. Learning from a forum, meh, maybe not too easy. I think it would be a great place to share ideas though.

I have better gear now, a mixture of the best and most expensive to the cheapest and mediocre, but like I said, this is a different market and different area...

Anyone need a second shooter? I've done 1 wedding (2nd shoot) here thus far but making connections seems far and in between.

***Edit: I felt like editing to mention that nobody ever got their photos, frames or service for free, as they were happy. I did have to replace things that were damaged in shipping sometimes though. I often provided poster frames and contacts to purchase frames and photo albums, shipping glass frames sometime broke. On 1 occasion, someone was unhappy... a B&W picture of a big church, they didn't like the perspective so I didnt sweat it and said no worries, you dont have to pay for it, I don't have capabilities to eliminate that and no boom truck on hand to shoot from several stories up. they wanted to make a big deal out of it even though it was free, just sort of whiny not letting it go big deal every time they saw me in town. One of my friends on the city council told me about how they were obnoxious to everyone and it was apparently the norm. Anyhow.... I'm sure they were just trying to get me to improve myself but it wasnt the right time for that type of coercion.


***My first suggestion sort of involves organization of the wedding and its photo opportunities, whereas walking down the aisle is a good shot obviously, so is the hair salon with the bride getting her hair done, hours before the wedding, with some bridesmaids perhaps, showing some nervous joy and excitement before the big event.